Bleeding after sex

[merryandbrightdelight]

Hi All

My backstory is I've had health anxiety for a few years which I've had counselling and medication for, I'm now in a much better place and have been off medication since January, however I'm now on the ceiling again!

I have a tilted uterus and smears have always been quite painful, and at times so has sex in certain positions. DD1 was IVF so I had diazepam for egg retrieval and transfer because I tense up so much with anything gynae.

I was in the depo for 3 years and had my last injection last July. I came off it because of the weight gain, mood swings and terrible vaginal dryness, but while I was on it I had no periods at all. Periods sort of started in April this year light and few and far between, then have got more regular and as they were. Sometimes they can be early by a week, or late by a week, but I'm assuming it's everything getting back to normal.

I had my smear in July and get sent to colposcopy for it ever since my first one, as my cervix is that far back (I'm 33). I went at the end of July and the staff were amazing but couldn't see the 'os', so another nurse was called in who had to put her finger up to try and pull it forward. She eventually got the position she needed and it really, really hurt! She asked afterwards if I always bleed after a smear which I confirmed I do. She did worry me and I spoke to the other nurse after who said from what she saw, everything looked as it should, and many people bleed when there's a lot of prodding and poking which they did to me. I bled as usual then my period which was due 3 days later, started early. Results came back, everything fine.

Since then, I've noticed that after sex, I've had slight bleeding - mainly very light red to pink for a few days after. Before my last period around mid-cycle, I also noticed discharge, which was mainly pink or brown tinged. The sort of consistency of EWCM. I had my period as normal and came off yesterday. This afternoon, DH and I had sex, all fine, not rough or anything. About 20 minutes later I felt damp and when I looked, I was bleeding. Went to the toilet and it was bright red blood and it sort of gushed out of me. I cleaned myself up and put a panty liner in, and it's not soaking through or anything. It's more now when I wipe. I went to the toilet earlier and there was a clot which I'm assuming is the area clotting, then I've gone to the toilet and pushed for a wee and dislodged the clot and that's why it's come out, but there's no gushing or anything, just red when I wipe.

I can't go back on the depo, I was on the pill for a number of years when I was younger but got a lot of breast lumps so came off it, and the idea of the coil terrifies me! So we are using condoms and I've broached the idea of the snip with DH.

I will be ringing my GP tomorrow morning, but I'm beside myself and it's sent my anxiety through the roof. I have two young DDs (3 and 5) and I'm honestly biting my lip so hard so I don't cry. I'm annoyed at myself for googling and letting my health anxiety be triggered when I know I need to see my GP, but this has all started ever since my smear in July and I don't understand why. I've never had anything similar before, or pain, or bleeding after sex or anything.

Sorry for the long post, just looking for some experiences of others. Thanks so much for reading

Hi @merryandbrightdelight how are you? I also get spotting similar to the above. I've had scans, a colposcopy, blood work and it's all come back normal. The GP this week has now suggested to me to use the pill or the coil. I don't particularly want to do this as I generally feel better off synthetic hormones. How are you doing, did you go and see your GP? I have children ages 3 and 4 and I'm 38. I'm convinced what I am experiencing are perimenopausal symptoms but GPs are not receptive to the idea!

How are you getting on?

Hi @Lollyl88 thank you for your reply. I saw a nurse on Tuesday who asked if I had heard of cervical ectropian and said that it sounds like that, and the fact that my smear has recently been completed and has come back clear and that I am not in any pain are good signs. I asked if I could be referred for an internal ultrasound which she has done for me so I'm just waiting for the appointment to come through. Have you had one of these?

Did they do any tests on you for perimenopause? I'm the same, I don't want to go back on any hormonal contraception so I'm hoping that whatever it is can be dealt with

@merryandbrightdelight glad you've got a scan booked for yourself. Yes I have had a scan. My story is I started getting slight spotting with a bowel movement about 3 days pre period. (Previously very regular and no issues). So saw GP and they swabbed. Everything normal. Sent me for a colposcopy because cervix looked a bit inflamed. Had biopsy taken all normal. Anyway I went back after a couple of months because the spotting was still happening and I wasn't satisfied they'd found a cause so sent for a scan. Scan came back as normal apart from some adenomyosis. I have struggled with this as I don't have painful or heavy periods (usual symptoms of adenomyosis). Anyway have the last two months have had as you have described after sex. Went to GP this week, no ectropian for me and no clue really as all testing, blood work has come back normal. Which is great but also frustrating. I've had a couple of other issues and am now thinking I'm possibly a bit perimenopausal. I'm 38. GP not really on board with this though and is suggesting mirena coil or mini pill. Both of which I'm not keen on! So have an appointment with contraception nurse next week - hoping to speak to her and get her opinion. I've found my GPs knowledge pretty limiting and disinterested now we've ruled out anything major. But seeing the blood gives me anxiety every time so I'd really like to get some sort of solution!

Would be keen to hear how you get on!

@Lollyl88 yes and with you! I will definitely keep updating. I'm pleased you've had it investigated, even though they haven't found a cause at least they have done necessary testing.
The blood is the scary thing isn't it! If you don't mind me asking, how much is there? And how long does it last for you?
Do you know roughly how old your Mum was when she went into menopause? Im sure theres blood tests that they can do to see if it looks as though you're heading that way. A very good friend of mine is a private women's health clinic nurse and I'm always asking her advice, and this was one of the things that she asked me as she wondered if it was perimenopause. What other forms of hormonal contraception have you tried?

@merryandbrightdelight
Blood varies. The spotting before my period I have got used to almost and reconciled it's just my new normal - that is not much. Only really when I wipe and a couple of spots on a liner. The couple of times it's happened after sex - the last time I felt there was quite a bit and I spotted for a couple y of days. Again mainly when I went to the toilet.

I'm only 38 and my mum went through menopause at 51 so it does seem very early. Not had any blood tests for hormones. As far as contraceptives go I use to be on the combined pill before children but haven't been on it for 7 years really!

How old are you?

How strange! Have you asked to see a different GP to see what they say? It might be worth asking for a blood test for menopause if they rule everything else out. I'm almost 34 and my mum went through the menopause in her late 40s I think - she had me at 36 but had fertility problems and has a bicornuate uterus.

I rang colposcopy today because my NHS app says my smear was 'abnormal' and I was in bit. The nurse I spoke to was the one who did it and said she was looking at the report while I was on the phone and it was definitely normal so I'm going to find out how to get this amended. She asked if I was ok and I explained the issues and she said to ask for a referral to gynae and that it was great I was addressing it and that bleeding can be from all sorts but they rule things out. I did mention I'm waiting for a scan and she said that they can be helpful as it can show them where the bleeding is coming from, so as much as I really don't want to, I'm going to ask for a referral

Hi @Lollyl88 just to update you, I saw my GP earlier and he said he isn't concerned at all, and the fact I'm bleeding could be due to having a smear which was difficult and because I'm not on contraception this is how my periods are, as it can take years for them to go back to 'normal' after the depo. He said it could possibly even be due to my age. He said he wouldn't do a gynae referral without my scan as they would request it anyway, so to wait for that and see what comes back, but he said he knows I worry and understands why, but he isn't concerned

@merryandbrightdelight Great to hear you have a really supportive and understanding GP. Good to hear they've booked a scan. Let me know how you get on 😊

Hi @Lollyl88 still waiting for my scan, but I tracked everything like the nurse said and I'm not spotting at all during ovulation week, so a full 7 days, then it's back to how it was. How are you getting on?

@merryandbrightdelight I had a cervical ectropion/erosion too, it was caused by taking norethisterone when I was younger. It took about 3 years but it's gone now, I used to bleed quite heavily too. X

@Angelselevenx oh that's very helpful, thank you for sharing that! Did it come out of nowhere? How are you now?

@merryandbrightdelight yep! I started bleeding after sex all the time and I mean, full on bleeding. Got checked out and got referred on the two week wait, this must've been 2017. Went to hospital and they checked too and confirmed it was a ectropian, it's where the cells from inside the cervix had come down to the outside of the cervix so every time it was knocked I'd bleed. I think I actually had it longer than 3 years, cause I was on the patch and then when I came off all contraception it just healed itself a couple of years ago, I was told it's hormonal. I haven't bled now in probably a year/18 months x

@merryandbrightdelight also, your cervix moves during your cycle so that may be why you bleed some times and others not. I'd bleed around ovulation when my cervix was lower and open x

@merryandbrightdelight oh and I also bleed after smears 😂 the joys!

@merryandbrightdelight sorry to hear you haven't had your scan date yet. These things can take ages can't they?!

So I saw a fantastic practice nurse last week and I've decided I'm going to give the Mirena coil a go. So I'm on a wait list for that to be fitted by my GP. I also spoke to her there about my overall concerns regarding the bleeding id had after sex but all testing clear. She said she'd happily look at my cervix. So she examined me and unlike the GP I saw a week ago she thinks she can see a cervical ectropion. So she's referred me to colposcopy dept. as I've asked for it to be cauterised. She was brilliant and so much better than my gp. So if her diagnosis is accurate it would explains the bleeding. I also agree with the above poster about cervix moving so that all makes more sense to me!

@nomoreplease2016 saw your post on another board and thought I would direct you here

Oh your cervix sounds like mine! 😂 so did your bleeding start, or you notice it, when you weren't on any contraception?

That's amazing news @Lollyl88 I bet you feel so relieved! It always makes a massive difference when you see someone understanding. Have they said how long you will need to wait to have the coil fitted?

It is frustrating, but I do feel better now I've realised it's not during ovulation week, it does make me feel like it's hormonal

@merryandbrightdelight it just randomly started and carried on after sex for years, thought it was never going to end! every smear they told me they could see the ectropian haha. Then when I came off contraception that's when it sorted itself out and I haven't bled for a while now

@merryandbrightdelight Have you had your scan yet? Just wondering how you are? :)

No scan yet @Lollyl88 - I rang the US department last week and it had been received but had to go to panel to see if I can have it, which she said will take another few weeks. My period didn't show until CD36 this time around, which I have had once before back in May time. I'm back to the pink spotting when wiping, so just continuing to log. I have calmed down a lot though because from ovulation until my period last time around the spotting had stopped.

How are you?

@merryandbrightdelight Sorry to hear you're still waiting for an appointment. That's very frustrating! I've had a coloscopy appt through to get my ectropian looked at but I'm back to the GP Friday. Still on coil waitlist but I'm insisting on discussing whether I'm in peri. Now getting pins and needles at night, groin pain, brain fog, some hot flashes. I think my bleeding is because my hormones are starting to change! Think they're going to say I'm too young g but I think that's what the issue is!

Reading with interest as this has happened to me this week. I'm peri with a coil and HRT oestrogen.
Sometimes get spotting / pink when wiping after a bowel movement and after an increasingly rare instance of DTD , I had red but thin blood (no clots ) which has continued for 4 days. Getting lighter but still there. Now "pink" tinged CM. Used a pant liner but only one tiny mark.
Smear recently fine. I've got slight cramps now and am away and so my tummy is a bit off but wondering if it needs a check. Had a fresh patch Sunday All thoughts welcome

@Lollyl88 did you want the coil or was it suggested by your GP? I think looking into peri is a great idea - no test can determine it, but if you have other signs. Did anyone in your family go through it early on?

Got my letter through today for Tuesday and we're away! Need to ring them in the morning and see if they can change it

Hi @Pollyanni -when you say your tummy feels off, do you mean pain, cramps etc? It sounds very much like it could be linked to your hormones, especially with you being peri. Have you mentioned it to your GP?